Past, Present, Future

Presented by Charlie Sanders

Charlie Sanders

� Twitter: @krnlsndrs � GitHub: https://github.com/sandersch � Blog: http://krnlsndrs.blogspot.com

What is Android?

What is Android?

� Linux-based operating system targeted at mobile devices

� Owned by Google � Open Source, Apache License � Java-based applications (apps)

Android and Google

� Android, Inc founded October 2003 � Acquired by Google on August 17, 2005 � Google wanted to offer an alternative to

Apple’s iOS

Android and Open Source

� Google mostly publishes as Apache 2.0 � Kernel changes and GNU utilities are GPL � Third parties cannot use Google’s Android

trademark unless Google certifies the device � Many of Google’s ecosystem apps are

proprietary � Gmail, Maps, Youtube, Play Store,

Android and OEMs

� Hardware manufacturers may port Android to their devices at no cost

� Google works with a device partner on a flagship device whose specifications are chosen to push Android in the direction Google wants

� OEMs and carriers have no incentive to offer updates

Android System Architecture

Android System Architecture

� Linux Kernel � Hardware Abstraction Layer � Userland Libraries � Dalvik (Android Runtime) � Application framework

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Android Linux Kernel � Original fork based on 2.6 series, later rebased on

3.x series � Merged back into mainline in 2012 (3.3/3.5) � Android Kernel Unique Features:

�  YAFFS2 flash file system

�  Wakelocks/alarm timers (power management)

�  “Paranoid” networking security patches

�  Shared memory subsystem

�  Process memory allocator

Userland Libraries

� Programs, libraries, and APIs implemented in a low-level language

� Usually written in C/C++ � Many commonly used FOSS packages � Android Debugger

Dalvik Virtual Machine � Java-compatible application framework � Designed with mobile devices in mind � Convert compiled class files into Dalvik

Executable format (.dex) � Register-based instead of typical stack-based

architecture � Just-in-time (JIT) compiler

Application Framework � Interface available for Android app

developers � Principle of least privilege � Each process has its own virtual machine

(VM), so an application’s code runs in isolation from other applications.

Application Framework � Application Components

� Activities – represent a single screen with a user interface

� Services – run in the background to perform long-running operations or remote interaction

� Content Providers – manage a shared set of application data

� Broadcast Receivers – respond to system-wide broadcast announcements

History of Android

Android 1.0 September 2008

Android 1.0 (Astro) � Pull down notifications � Home screen widgets � Android Market � First class Gmail support � Google Maps � Google Data Sync

T-Mobile G1 – October 22, 2008

Android 1.1 (Bender)

� February 2009 � Primarily bug patches � Over-the-air upgrade

Android 1.5 (Cupcake) � May 2009 � First to use dessert naming convention � Extensive UI changes � Soft keyboard � Widget SDK � Clipboard Improvements � Video Capture and Playback

Android 1.6 (Donut) � October 2009 � Minor visual refinements � CDMA support � Support for different screen resolutions � Universal search � Redesigned Android market � Improved camera interface

Android 2.0 November 2009

Android 2.0 � Better Account Support and APIs � Google Maps Navigation � Quick Contact � Soft keyboard improvements � Revamped browser � Live Wallpapers � Speech-to-text � New lock screen

Motorola Droid

Motorola Droid

� Exclusive to Verizon � Start of very successful mobile franchise � Improved build quality � 854x480 display � By far best physical keyboard on the market

Android 2.1 (Eclair)

� Not a major upgrade, hence no codename change

� Strategic shift for Google � Choose to work directly with HTC to make its own

flagship device � Showcase Android without any modifications – like

Google intended � Extension of work began with Motorola Droid

Android 2.1 and Nexus One

� First Nexus device � “Stock” Android experience � One of the most well-regarded Android

phones ever produced

Nexus One

Android 2.2 (Froyo)

� May 2010 � Redesigned home screen � New Gallery apps showcased 3D capabilities � Better Copy / Paste support in Gmail � Mobile hotspot support

HTC Evo 4G � Beginning of the

mobile size wars � First popular

Android device on Sprint

� Very heavily skinned

Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)

� December 2010 � Reskinning of platform � Improved on-screen keyboard � Front-facing camera support � NFC support � Improved gaming API support

Nexus S

Android 3.x (Honeycomb) December 2010

Motorola Xoom

Motorola Xoom

� First officially sanctioned Android tablet � Google worked closely with Motorola to

showcase stock Android 3.0

Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)

� Fundamental redesign of Android UX � New UI designed for tablets � Redesigned home screen and widget placement, resizing � Death of physical buttons – now all buttons are virtual � Quick access System and Action Bars � Redesigned keyboard

Android 3.0 (Honeycomb)

� New application layout options � Fragments � Multi-column layouts � Better support for dealing with different screen

resolutions and aspect ratios

� Improved Multitasking

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

October 2011

Galaxy Nexus

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

� First release under Matias Duarte’s direction � Galaxy Nexus

� First Nexus device with 4G wireless support � Brought Honeycomb UX to smartphones � Nearly universal critical acclaim

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

� New custom-designed typeface, Roboto � Refreshed notification dropdown � Soft keyboard improvements

� Complete overhaul of correction intelligence � Inline spellcheck and replacement (much like iOS) � Text entry, clipboard support, and soft keyboard finally

feel as good as the best on the market

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)

� Home screen folders and favorites � Android Beam (NFC data transfer) � Face unlock � Data usage analysis � New calendar and email apps � No more Adobe Flash support

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

� June 2012 � Nexus 7 � Project Butter � Google Now � Expandable, actionable notifications � Predictive text

Nexus 7 � Reboot in Google’s

tablet strategy � Aimed at Kindle

Fire and Nook � A device for

consuming content from Google’s store

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

� Project Butter � Significantly improves graphics and touch

performance � Locks all drawing at 16ms � Triple-buffering graphics � Closing the gap with lag against iOS

Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) � Google Now

� Entirely new platform for Google

� Provides context-aware “cards” of information

� Makes the information that Google knows about you available for your own use

� Weather � Sports scores � Traffic alerts � Public Transit � Flight updates � Shipping notifications � Calendar events

Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)

� November 2012 � Nexus 4/Nexus 10 � Gesture Typing (like Swype) � Multiple user support (tablets only) � Wireless video sharing � Lock screen widgets

Current State of Android

Android Ecosystem

Stock Android Apps

� Browser � Clock � Calculator � Email � Gallery � Messaging � Phone

Closed-source Google Apps

� Google Data Sync � Play Store � Gmail � Google Maps/Navigation � YouTube

Google Play Store

� Applications � Music � TV and Movies � Books and Magazines

Gmail

� Archiving � Filters � Labels � Threaded conversations � Actionable notifications

Google Maps

� Accurate, reliable location data � Turn-by-turn navigation � Information on nearby locations � Download maps for offline viewing

Third Party Apps

� Swype � Dropbox � Spotify/Pandora/Google Music/Rdio � Netflix � Barcode Scanner � Amazon Kindle

Android Device Market

Nexus Devices

Nexus 4

Nexus 10

Samsung

Galaxy S3

Galaxy S4

Galaxy Note 2

Samsung Android Screen Sizes

2.6” 2.8” 3.14” 3.2” 3.4” 3.6” 3.65” 3.7” 3.8” 3.97” 4” 4.2” 4.27” 4.3” 4.5” 4.52” 4.65” 4.7” 4.8” 5” 5.3” 5.5” 5.8” 6.3” 7” 7.7” 8” 8.9” 10” 10.1”

HTC

HTC One

HTC First

Motorola

� Bought by Google on August 15, 2011 � Google warned things wouldn’t change

immediately due to “long pipeline” � Rumors

� Stock Android � “Just right” size � X Phone

Future of Android

Leadership

� Google announced Andy Rubin was stepping down in March 2013

� Replaced by Sundar Pichai, head of Chrome OS team

Android 5.0 (Key Lime Pie)

� Expected release at Google I/O (May 2013) � Nexus partner rumors: Sony, LG � Babble (unified messaging)

Beyond Smartphones and Tablets

� Set-top boxes � Pivos � Ouya � Google TV/Fiber

� Gaming Systems � Project Shield

� Wearable computing � Pebble � Google Glass � FitBit

� Cameras